Testing saves lives

This week is National HIV Testing week, and we’re promoting the message ‘testing saves lives’.

1 in 4 people living with HIV in Calderdale don’t know they have it. This could be because some people choose not to get tested, they don’t think it could happen to them or they don’t know how it can be passed on.

NHS England is now also offering home sampling, where a kit will be sent to your home with a postal return address. The kits are small and discreet with no identifying markings or logos and the test can easily be conducted at home. To check your eligibility for a home test, visit www.test.hiv(external link).

The earlier that HIV is detected, the more likely it is that treatment will be successful. Early treatment also means someone can still live a normal healthy life with HIV and also reduce the spread of the disease with good condom use.

Calderdale Council’s Director of Public Health, Paul Butcher, said:

“In Calderdale, although we have a relatively low rate of HIV, we unfortunately have a higher late diagnosis rate, resulting in poor prognosis for the patient. It’s so important to get tested especially as early diagnosis and HIV treatment allows someone with HIV to live a normal healthy life and prevents onward transmission.”